Lunch – The Denhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden
Are you art-crawling? Craft-beer patio-pounding? Waiting in line for brunch? Sitting at work wishing you were doing something like that? Yeah, welcome to The Den.Wed, 20 Jan 2016 21:59:13 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.377396989Troy Guard to open TAG Burger Bar in Denver's Highland neighborhoodhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2016/01/06/troy-guard-to-open-tag-burger-bar-in-denvers-highland-neighborhood/
http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2016/01/06/troy-guard-to-open-tag-burger-bar-in-denvers-highland-neighborhood/#commentsWed, 06 Jan 2016 18:54:47 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=28792Cowtown or not, it seems Denver just can't get enough ground beef in a bun: Troy Guard is bringing TAG Burger Bar to the Highland neighborhood.
The restaurant is slated to open this month in the former Sunnyside Burger Bar space at 3759 Lipan St.
Along with custom burgers, the menu will feature Pastrami Nachos with house-cured [...]

]]>http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2016/01/06/troy-guard-to-open-tag-burger-bar-in-denvers-highland-neighborhood/feed/128792Sneak peek at Rhein Haus: brats, beer and boccehttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/11/13/sneak-peek-at-rhein-haus-brats-beer-and-bocce/
http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/11/13/sneak-peek-at-rhein-haus-brats-beer-and-bocce/#commentsSat, 14 Nov 2015 04:55:48 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=28670The Rhein Haus, which opens next week in downtown Denver, is like an old-world beer hall in Munich — it’s even got four bocce courts in the 13,000 square-foot space located downtown at 14th and Market streets.
While bocce courts aren’t authentic to German bierstuben, lots of people play bocce in Munich, and the Rhein [...]

Rhein Haus is getting ready to open, with final details now getting finished. (Photo by Colleen O'Connor.)

The Rhein Haus, which opens next week in downtown Denver, is like an old-world beer hall in Munich — it’s even got four bocce courts in the 13,000 square-foot space located downtown at 14th and Market streets.

While bocce courts aren’t authentic to German bierstuben, lots of people play bocce in Munich, and the Rhein Haus offers a wide variety of German beers, including some from small German breweries not yet known in the U.S.

The ambiance is rich with beautiful old pieces, like a towering fireplace of handcarved dark wood made more a century ago in Munich. One room has wall hangings and a chandelier with the carved stag heads typical of the Black Forest, and another room is lit with antique crystal chandeliers.

“We like older pieces,” said Deming Maclise, one of the owners working on the space on Friday. “Instantly, they bring character to a space, and we design around that.”

The space is the former Old Chicago, where co-owner Rich Fox hung out when he lived in Denver and worked at Rock Bottom on the 16th Street Mall, so he knew its great location when co-owner Matt Fundingsland, a Denver native, mentioned that the Old Chicago space was up for grabs.

The original Rhein Haus, which opened in Seattle in 2013, proved such a hit that the team of owners — including James Weimann and Dustin Watson — decided to bring one to Denver, and doubled the Old Chicago space by opening the upstairs level, adding skylight and polishing walls of windows to create a light, airy space.

The menu features housebaked pretzels and housemade sausages — including bourbon and buffalo sausage unique to Denver — plus bratwurst, hirschwurst (lightly smoked venison and beef) and even veggiewurst made from chickpeas, carrots, onions, garlic and paprika.

]]>http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/11/13/sneak-peek-at-rhein-haus-brats-beer-and-bocce/feed/528670Telegraph Bistro & Bar opens in Washington Parkhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/10/21/telegraph-bistro-bar-opens-in-washington-park/
http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/10/21/telegraph-bistro-bar-opens-in-washington-park/#commentsWed, 21 Oct 2015 21:26:20 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=28590Telegraph Bistro & Bar in Washington Park just opened for lunch today, will debut its brunch menu on Oct. 24, and its dinner business has been brisk since the eatery opened Friday in the former space of Café Bar and the Grey Cactus.
“It’s been 100 percent people from the neighborhood,” said owner Christopher Sargent. [...]

Telegraph Bistro & Bar in Washington Park just opened for lunch today, will debut its brunch menu on Oct. 24, and its dinner business has been brisk since the eatery opened Friday in the former space of Café Bar and the Grey Cactus.

“It’s been 100 percent people from the neighborhood,” said owner Christopher Sargent. “Everyone we talked to said they used to come to Café Bar all the time, and they love the changes we’ve made. They’re saying the food is really great, so we’re pretty stoked about that.”

Sargent opened the popular Brazen restaurant in the Highland neighborhood last year, and just applied for a liquor license for his third venture, Kindred, that will open in Sunnyside in four to seven months.

Right now, the excitement is about Telegraph, which features new American cuisine. Today, the debut of their lunch hour, revealed a happy surprise for fans of the $13 Brazen burger, which is now served at Telegraph –beef, bacon, and cheddar with a secret sauce.

Sargent and executive chef Brian Wilson – who both worked at chef Jennifer Jasinski’s restaurant Rioja – have created a menu that balances such proteins as red snapper ($34), seabass ($26) and pork chops ($27) with lots of vegetable plates like cauliflower steak ($10), beet salad ($10), and tempura vegetables ($10).

Beet salad features raw and glazed beets with house granola, strawberry and tarragon creme. (Provided by Telegraph Bistro.)

People were out eating on the patio last night, window boxes with flowers will soon be installed, and the lights over the awning will soon be ready to turn on.

“We’re super happy people that people have noticed that we’re open,” said Sargent.

]]>http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/10/21/telegraph-bistro-bar-opens-in-washington-park/feed/128590Henry's Tavern bustles on 16th Street Mallhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/09/30/henrys-tavern-bustles-on-16th-street-mall/
Wed, 30 Sep 2015 21:07:10 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=28508Henry’s Tavern on the 16th Street Mall is already proving a popular lunch spot. A month after its opening, the place was packed. It's got a fun, casual vibe.
Today, the great weather inspired people to eat outside on the patio, and inside, at the edges of the room near the walls – made of [...]

Henry's Tavern at the Denver Pavilions features walls of garage doors and industrial chic. (Photo by Dave Burdick.)

Henry’s Tavern on the 16th Street Mall is already proving a popular lunch spot. A month after its opening, the place was packed. It's got a fun, casual vibe.

Today, the great weather inspired people to eat outside on the patio, and inside, at the edges of the room near the walls – made of garage doors – that rolled up to create open-air dining.

They sat on leather couches, eating on coffee tables and talking with friends, or at tables near the full-service bar, enjoying the breeze and the urban scene outside. Even the bar was packed with lunch-hour diners eating and imbibing.

There are more than 100 beers on tap, continuing the tradition of Henry’s Tavern, which started in Portland as a salute to the Blitz-Weinhard Brewery that brewed on that site for more than 140 years.

This is the first location in Colorado for the chain, which has only three restaurants outside Portland – in Denver, Seattle, and Plano, Texas.

It will be the only location in Colorado for the duration of its 10-year lease at the Denver Pavilions – and its mix of local, regional, and specialty beers pairs perfectly with the local brew scene.

]]>28508Bistro Provencal comes to Denver's Riverfront Parkhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/09/03/bistro-provencal-comes-to-denvers-riverfront-park/
Thu, 03 Sep 2015 22:22:19 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=28310Over on Little Raven Street, across from Zengo, the long-awaited Bistro Provencal will open on Sept. 8. This week has been a soft opening for friends and family, and as they dined on the patio, plenty of neighbors have stopped by to get a peek at the menu.
“It looks terrific,” said Jacquie Lewis, who scanned [...]

Bistro Provencal serves food from the south of France. (Photo by Colleen O'Connor.)

Over on Little Raven Street, across from Zengo, the long-awaited Bistro Provencal will open on Sept. 8. This week has been a soft opening for friends and family, and as they dined on the patio, plenty of neighbors have stopped by to get a peek at the menu.

“It looks terrific,” said Jacquie Lewis, who scanned the menu as she walked her dog.

She liked the prices – about $8 for a quiche entrée, and $7 for a salad – and the range of menu items that showcase the foods of Provence.

Chef and French native Alain Veratti, who started the popular Crepes ‘n Crepes eateries in Denver, wanted to expand.

“It’s nice to do something new,” he said. “I’ve been doing crepes for about 11 years now.”

Detail from a painting of Provence with its fields of deep purple lavender. (Photo by Colleen O'Connor.)

At Bistro Provencal, the menu includes such specialties as Tourte aux Fruits de Mer a la Provencal – puff pastry with salmon, shrimp, crab, tomatoes, garlic, white wine, and Provencal herbs – and Lasagne de Crepes a la Polenta et Bolognaise, a casserole of polenta crepes and Bolognese sauce that has sold out each day.

Tourte aux Fruits de Mer a la Provencal is a crowd favorite. (Photo by Colleen O'Connor.)

In addition to such classics as Salade Nicoise and lots of tempting quiches, there are gaufres – waffles common to the south of France. They include waffles topped with bacon and eggs, and waffles with spinach and feta cheese or waffles topped with smoked salmon.

Bistro Provencal also features French wines, including those that are favorites in Provence.

“People have been very warm and welcoming,” said sous chef Jonny Garcia. “They’ve been saying that we add a lot of flair and a different style to the neighborhood.”

Starting Sept. 8, it will be open seven days a week, opening at 8:30 for breakfast and open until 10 p.m. except on Monday, when it closes at 3 p.m.

]]>28310Tycoon Ramen & Sushi Bar comes to Capitol Hillhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/07/24/tycoon-ramen-sushi-bar-comes-to-capitol-hill/
Fri, 24 Jul 2015 20:43:06 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=28119Workers at the State Capitol will soon have a new place to eat.
Tycoon Ramen & Sushi Bar opens in a few months at 338 E. Colfax Avenue, in the space that formerly housed Emilio’s Mexican Restaurant, which closed earlier this year due to unpaid taxes.
That block is undergoing lots of changes.
Tycoon Ramen & Sushi Bar [...]

Tycoon Ramen & Sushi Bar opens in a few months at 338 E. Colfax Avenue, in the space that formerly housed Emilio’s Mexican Restaurant, which closed earlier this year due to unpaid taxes.

That block is undergoing lots of changes.

Tycoon Ramen & Sushi Bar is just up the street from Sassafras American Eatery, which serves cuisine influenced by Southern American cooking traditions — the same block where the classic Hollywood Posters closed in February after 35 years.

The owner of the Tycoon Ramen & Sushi Bar space, C & L Acquisition LLC, did not return phone calls, so there is not yet news on the menu and restaurant concept.

]]>28119Telegraph restaurant opens in Wash Park this Julyhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/06/12/telegraph-restaurant-opens-in-wash-park-this-july/
http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/06/12/telegraph-restaurant-opens-in-wash-park-this-july/#commentsFri, 12 Jun 2015 20:05:57 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=27818A new bistro is coming to Wash Park, taking over the space that formerly housed Café Bar and Grey Cactus Cocina. Called Telegraph, it’s owned by Chris Sargent, who owns the popular Brazen restaurant that opened last September.
“I’d always been eyeballing this,” said Sargent, at work on the reconstruction Friday afternoon.
When he moved to [...]

Telegraph will open in Wash Park this July. (Photo by Colleen O'Connor)

A new bistro is coming to Wash Park, taking over the space that formerly housed Café Bar and Grey Cactus Cocina. Called Telegraph, it’s owned by Chris Sargent, who owns the popular Brazen restaurant that opened last September.

“I’d always been eyeballing this,” said Sargent, at work on the reconstruction Friday afternoon.

When he moved to Denver about five years ago, he lived in the Country Club neighborhood, and Café Bar was a local eatery. A few months ago, his wife spotted all the closing signs on Grey Cactus and immediately called him to say the space was available.

He immediately got in touch with the landlord, and a contract was signed four days later.

They hope to open on July 15. The menu of new American cuisine, “seasonal and with a lot of fun flavors,” says Sargent, will include seafood and lots of vegetables.

Sargent, who previously worked at Acorn and Rioja, is bringing a kitchen team that’s got experience at restaurants like Linger, Acorn, and Rioja. Chef Craig Field, who worked at Rioja, is chef de cuisine, and executive chef is Brian Wilson, also of Rioja. Sous chef Maggie Restive opened Brazen with Sargent, and Jorge Cazares, formerly of Linger, will head the brunch and lunch teams.

Currently, they’re working on the interior space, which will have a wrap-around chef’s counter. Sargent’s vision for the exterior includes awnings and lots of plants, “like a Brooklyn neighborhood,” he said.

The space at 295 S. Pennsylvania Street has cycled through four different restaurants since 2010 -- Pho Basil, Pho Pasta, CafeBar and Grey Cactus – but Sargent is betting that the talents of his team, with a focus on top-quality service, will produce a successful bistro.

His other venture, the Sunnyside restaurant Kindred, has been pushed back until spring 2015 so he can focus on this unexpected opportunity.

]]>http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/06/12/telegraph-restaurant-opens-in-wash-park-this-july/feed/127818Cibo in LoHi features contemporary Italian foodhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/05/27/cibo-in-lohi-features-contemporary-italian-food/
http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/05/27/cibo-in-lohi-features-contemporary-italian-food/#commentsWed, 27 May 2015 21:46:55 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=27652It’s a great day to visit Cibo, the restaurant that just opened in the LoHi neighborhood, because the weather is beautiful and Cibo has a terrific patio at the intersection of 16th and Boulder streets – a seat at the corner table gives a view of the downtown skyline.
Cibo (pronounced chee-bow) is right across [...]

The patio at Cibo adds to the community feeling of the neighborhood. (Photo by Colleen O'Connor.)

It’s a great day to visit Cibo, the restaurant that just opened in the LoHi neighborhood, because the weather is beautiful and Cibo has a terrific patio at the intersection of 16th and Boulder streets – a seat at the corner table gives a view of the downtown skyline.

Cibo (pronounced chee-bow) is right across from Lola Mexican Fish House, and a block away from Little Man Ice Cream, so there’s lots of activity on the street – perfect for people watching -- plus a convenient parking lot across the street ($4 for three hours.)

Cibo is the latest concept from the Big Eats Restaurant Group, which also owns Marg’s World Taco Bistro. The menu features contemporary Italian food with a focus on natural and organic ingredients. The hand-stretched Neapolitan-style pizzas offer build-your-own choices, plus nine other types.

The popular Pizza Rustica is served with asparagus, roasted corn, prosciutto, roasted garlic, ricotta and fresh mozzarella ($11) and there’s also the Squash, a white pizza with smoked and fresh mozzarella, topped with butternut squash, walnuts and kale ($11).

Pizza in the wood-fired oven is a major focus at Cibo. (Photo by Ryan Elam.)

And for carnivores, there is Meat Lovers with fresh pepperoni, sausage, and bacon ($10).

Appetizers include braised short ribs ($9), mussels in a Thai curry sauce ($12), and calamari tossed with arugula in a sweet-spicy sauce ($15).

Salads include the Kale Caesar ($11), the Arugula Beet Salad served with goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette ($10), and the Mediterranean, with mixed greens, kalamata olives, cucumbers, tomatoes and feta with a red-wine vinaigrette served in a warm pizza crust ($9).

]]>http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/05/27/cibo-in-lohi-features-contemporary-italian-food/feed/127652Authentic Belgian waffles give rainy day cheerhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/05/20/authentic-belgian-waffles-give-rainy-day-cheer/
http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/05/20/authentic-belgian-waffles-give-rainy-day-cheer/#commentsWed, 20 May 2015 18:46:40 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=27638It’s waffle weather and business is brisk at Waffle Up, a restaurant in the Baker neighborhood that specializes in authentic Belgian street waffles.
When you step up to the counter to order, you’re immediately given helpful information – like these waffles are Liege-style Belgian waffles, so they’re not served with syrup. You can’t even get [...]

When you step up to the counter to order, you’re immediately given helpful information – like these waffles are Liege-style Belgian waffles, so they’re not served with syrup. You can’t even get syrup if you want it, because Waffle Up is all about authenticity, and in Liege they’re eaten as street food – hand held, just the delicious waffle with some powered sugar.

But this being America, there are lots of topping choices, from strawberry rhubarb compote to bacon, basil, and brie.

One of the co-founders, Tom McCarty, works in the open kitchen, making waffles on the cast-iron waffle iron imported straight from Liege.

He uses traditional Liege waffle dough, which is different from Belgian waffle dough. Liege-style is made from yeasted dough, and these waffles are more dense and chewy than traditional American waffles. One of the ingredients is pearl sugar, which melts and caramelizes on the outside when cooked, which adds to the layers of flavor.

Eating waffles here is a lot like eating them in Europe, and there’s a photograph on the wall of a bright-yellow food truck on the streets of Brussels, which was the genesis of the Denver company – traveling in Brussels, McCarty became entranced with the waffles, and started a food truck in Denver that proved so popular that they started a bricks-and-mortar place five months ago, at 300 Elati St., in a quiet neighborhood that’s mostly residential.

The menu has lots of variety – and it changes every month, to keep things fresh. Today, in the savory category, toppings include brie and apple butter, balsamic strawberry and goat cheese, and bacon and maple glaze.

]]>http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/05/20/authentic-belgian-waffles-give-rainy-day-cheer/feed/127638Lobster Bliss food truck launches next weekhttp://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/05/19/lobster-bliss-food-truck-launches-next-week/
http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/2015/05/19/lobster-bliss-food-truck-launches-next-week/#commentsTue, 19 May 2015 17:33:04 +0000http://blogs.denverpost.com/theden/?p=27630There’s a new food truck in town, and it will debut at Civic Center Eats next Tuesday, brimming with fresh, sustainable lobster.
Lobster Bliss, a bright red truck emblazoned with a white lobster, is the creation of Rich Manzo and Jeff Reebie, who’ve had much experience on the culinary scenes of Colorado and New York. In [...]

There’s a new food truck in town, and it will debut at Civic Center Eats next Tuesday, brimming with fresh, sustainable lobster.

Lobster Bliss, a bright red truck emblazoned with a white lobster, is the creation of Rich Manzo and Jeff Reebie, who’ve had much experience on the culinary scenes of Colorado and New York. In addition to the food truck, they’ve launched a wholesale business to supply whole, live Maine lobsters and other sustainable seafood to the area.

They’re also scouting for a location to open a restaurant in Denver in early 2016 that will be like a traditional New England lobster joint.

You can be the first to taste their fare at the Lobster Bliss food truck, which will have Lobster Rolls served on a brioche roll ($16), Lobster Cakes and Lobster Tacos ($12), and a Tempura Lobster Skewer with Mango Mojo ($12).

Other seafood eats include an Ahi Tuna Sandwich served on a brioche roll with red onion marmalade and scratch-made coleslaw ($12) and clam roll ($8).

You can also do your own taste test, comparing to other lobster you might have eaten.

Manzo and Reebie signed an agreement last year to bring lobster tanks to Colorado that recreate the ideal ocean experience for seafood, and they say there are only 300 such tanks in North America, with Lobster Bliss being the exclusive provider for Colorado.

Inside the 2,500-gallon tank, the water remains a constant 45 degrees and is completely filtered every 15 minutes, creating a stable, controlled and clean environment for the lobsters to thrive. The unique filtration system mimics the water-cleaning action of the ocean and naturally eliminates bacterial buildup.

It's located in Erie, and live lobsters are plucked from the tank and put onto the food truck, where they're cooked to order at Civic Center Eats.

And, if the wind continues to be cold and wet, the Lobster Mac and Cheese ($10) sounds like a good bet.